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Athens City Auditor Settles On Nepotism Complaint

The Ohio Ethics Commission has settled with Athens City Auditor Kathy Hecht after reprimanding her for hiring her children to work in the auditor's office.

According to the settlement agreement, Hecht's children "worked sporadically as interns" in the office between August 2005 and March 2007.

The commission reported "the investigation revealed at the time of her children's hire, Hecht reviewed the hire with the city's personnel director who failed to raise the potential nepotism issues." The commission's findings go on to detail Hecht did not directly oversee her children as employees nor did she set their schedules or sign their timesheets.

Hecht paid restitution to the City of Athens for $3,240.45 — the amount of the total pay her children earned during their employment.